Stem cell research is an active and promising area of interest for scientists working to understand Parkinson’s disease (PD) and develop treatments for it. Stem cells are a type of cell that can be reprogrammed to become another type of cell. Parkinson’s researchers use stem cells to create new dopamine cells which they can use to study the disease, test potential treatments, and possibly even replace lost neurons in the brain, easing motor symptoms. Check out our resources below to learn more about advances in stem cell research.
Podcast: Reporting on Stem Cells for Parkinson's
Maggie Kuhl, vice president of research engagement at The Michael J. Foundation (MJFF) and host of the "Parkinson’s Science POV" podcast series, talks with experts on the latest stem cell research and clinical trials in process.
Understanding Stem Cells in Research
Embryonic stem cells are a type of cell in an embryo that can become any other kind of cell in the body. Normally, stem cells in an adult can only make more of a specific type of cell – a skin stem cell makes more skin cells or a blood stem cell makes blood cells. But researchers have learned how to reprogram these cells into a different kind of cell. They turn a skin stem cell into a dopamine-producing brain cell, the same kind of cell that is lost in Parkinson’s disease. These kinds of stem cells are called induced pluripotent stem cells.
Induced pluripotent stem cells are a research tool that scientists can use in many ways. They can study genetic or environmental factors that contribute to disease to better understand disease risk and progression. Or, researchers can test new treatments in the laboratory to see how the cells respond.
Ask the MD: Stem Cells and Parkinson’s Disease
Movement disorder specialist Rachel Dolhun, MD, DipABLM, discusses how stem cells are used in Parkinson’s research and the testing process that stem cell therapies are undergoing.
What to Know about Stem Cell Therapies
One possible treatment for Parkinson’s involves using stem cells to replace lost dopamine neurons in the brain. This is an area of research filled with possibility, but clinical trials are in early stages to test their safety and efficacy. Scientists need to know how many new dopamine cells to use, how and where to put them into the brain, how the cells survive, and any side effects that arise. If approved, stem cell therapies could lessen movement symptoms such as tremor, slowness and stiffness by making dopamine more available in the brain and decreasing medication needs. They may not affect non-motor symptoms or slow or stop disease progression.
Stem Cell Resources
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Learn More about Stem Cell Research in Progress
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Read about Dopamine Cell Research
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Watch a 2019 Webinar on the Basics of Stem Cell Research
The Difference between Stem Cell Clinical Trials and Stem Cell Clinics
It’s important to note that what’s being tested in these clinical trials differs from clinics that offer expensive stem cell therapies. These clinics are using unproven methods that often involve taking a sample of skin, fat, or blood, separating and treating the stem cells in the sample, and returning it to the person’s blood. These methods do not turn those stem cells into the dopamine neurons lost due to Parkinson’s or get them where they need to be in the brain. While some people may report benefits, the stem cell therapies these clinics offer do not have rigorous evidence backing them and their safety has not been confirmed. For more on this topic, check out our Ask the MD Blog post.
The medical information contained in this article is for general information purposes only. The Michael J. Fox Foundation has a policy of refraining from advocating, endorsing or promoting any drug therapy, course of treatment, or specific company or institution. It is crucial that care and treatment decisions related to Parkinson’s disease and any other medical condition be made in consultation with a physician or other qualified medical professional.
These resources were made possible by Blue Rock Therapeutics. Partner support allows us to furnish high-quality educational content to the Parkinson’s community while maintaining our commitment to allocate donor dollars to high-impact research. The Michael J. Fox Foundation is solely responsible for the content in these resources.